Sinus Problems

[elltkeen]

I snorted cocaine for the second time in 7 years.  It was a spare-of-the-moment thing that I did and now I'm regreting it.  It's been almost two weeks and I seem to be suffering from sinusitis.  I have no runny or stuffy nose and there is no green stuff if I blow my nose.  I got a fever twice so I went to the doctor on Thursday and he prescribed BIAXIN (antibiotic) after looking in my throat, ears and nose. The pain right below my forhead on my nose comes and goes.  I also developed a ring in the ears.  Today it's been the worst yet.  I didn't have these pains a few days after the stupid mistake I made.  It's only developed recently.  I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen and if I can expect the symptoms to leave at some point.

Any advise would be helpful.

[Jeffrey S Guy, M.D., M. Sc.]

If the antibiotics do not result in improvement in a few days you should follow up with your doctor and he will reevaluate the antibiotic selection, or even the diagnosis.  

[elltkeen]

Today was my third visit to the Doctor.  This is after the 10 day prescription he gave me on the second visit that didn't work.  On this visit he placed a small tube with a light on the end up both nostrils (very uncomfortable).  He said that the insides were inflamed.  He prescribed me a 10 day antiinflamitory medication and a month long antibiotic.  I am to follow up in 30 days.  He also mentioned that the tubes from my ear to my throat that equalizes the preasure weren't working.  That probably explains the ringing in the ear.

My blood pressure was high on the first Doctor visit.  Today it was normal.  I've been trying to take care of myself.  No smoking, no drinking, no caffeine and drinking 1 gallon of distilled water daily for the last 3 1/2 weeks straight.  I've also been using a juicer with organic fruit and a Super Food formula by Dr. Schulze twice a day, not to mention a nasal irrigation twice a day.

Is this typical when using cocaine only once?  Can my body heal itself and return to normal?

[Jeffrey S Guy, M.D., M. Sc.]

It sounds like you have some serious sinus issues.  I would opine that these are not the direct result of your single episode cocaine use.  

[elltkeen]

What you said makes sense, but I haven't and won't be snorting ever again.

Things are better than they were.  Not totally cleared up after 2 months.  I'll be seeing the Doctor again on Thursday.